Long Beach kicks off summer youth jobs program

LONG BEACH >> Long Beach officials today kicked off a summer program that provides hundreds of paid jobs to youth in the city.

The Long Beach Youth Jobs Program, which is run by the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network, helps businesses hire young employees at no cost, with participants being paid $9 an hour by the public agency.

“The Youth Jobs Program guides qualified young people into the workforce,” Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster said. “Our local businesses benefit, the economy benefits, and the community benefits.”

The goal is to employ 500 youth through the program this summer, according to the city.

Cristo Cisneros, a 17-year-old program participant who works at Eye Land Optometry, said he thinks the program is a better option than working for a fast-food restaurant like many teens do.

“It’s going to help me a lot when I work with other companies,” Cisneros said. “Hopefully if I do get to have an opportunity, they’ll see I have experience working in a high professional office and hopefully they’ll hire me.”

Businesses interested in taking part in the program can visit www.pacific-gateway.org or call Karla Corona at 562-570-3681.